Bain Capital, Silver Lake Partners and Goldman Sachs settled for a combined $150.5 million, while KKR, Blackstone Group and TPG Capital are expected within days to settle for a larger amount.

Even if Carlyle settles before the trial date, it will likely end up paying more than the previous settlements because ithas the most to lose, sources said.

“They dawdled and now they are stuck,” a source close to the case said.

E-mails from Carlyle’s executives have been held up as evidence that the firms agreed not to jump on each others deals.

A Carlyle executive allegedly wrote, “[s]ome have proposed we try to compete by participating in a competing deal. I do not think that is a good idea for many reasons, but particularly because I do not want to be in a pissing battle with KKR at the same time we are teaming on other deals elsewhere.”

A Carlyle spokesman said “the suit is without merit” but declined to comment on whether it is in settlement talks.